More than 100 environmental advocates from 40 countries will get a day-long introduction to Yachats and the central Oregon coast during field trips Tuesday sponsored by the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide.
The Eugene-based alliance is hosting the advocates as part of its weeklong annual meeting that begins Sunday. That meeting is followed March 1-3 by the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference.
On Tuesday conference attendees will stop first at the Heceta Head Lighthouse before arriving at the Yachats Commons for lunch and a welcome from Mayor Craig Berdie. The keynote address is by Paul Engelmeyer of Yachats, manager of the Tenmile Creek Sanctuary, on environmental protections of the Oregon coast.
From there, the group splits. Some will hear from Bob Bailey of the Elakha Alliance on returning sea otters to the coast and from Joanne Kittel of View the Future on the history of coastal tribes and the 804 Trail. Other members of the group are scheduled to go to Cape Perpetua to hear Siuslaw National Forest officials talk about the Northwest Forest Plan and from Katy Nalven of the Cape Perpetua Collaborative. Other tours and talks include a visit to Strawberry Hill south of Yachats to hear from Charlie Plybon of the Surfrider Foundation and Ryan Fields about the Oregon Marine Reserves Program.
The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide is a longtime Eugene nonprofit organized to help communities around the world protect global climate, prevent pollution and challenge environmental abuses, strengthen and enforce laws protecting the environment, and help citizens speak out for communities and the environment.
